According to the Federal Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, chronic illness affects almost half of the adult population. Chronic illness includes everything from heart disease and cancer to rare lung disorders and conditions like Fibromyalgia, and it can affect people’s lives in all kinds of ways. From not being able to walk up the stairs unassisted, to living a relatively normal life, the symptoms of chronic illness can vary in seriousness, and many sufferers live very ordinary lives most of the time.
It’s still possible to have a fulfilling job when you suffer from chronic illness; all it takes is finding the right one to suit your lifestyle. There are plenty of jobs that allow you to work for yourself, meaning when your illness takes over and you’re forced to have a day off, you’re not being judged by your boss. Here are a few options to get you thinking…
Freelance Writer
If you consider yourself a bit of a wordsmith and enjoy writing in your spare time, why not consider it as a career? Grab your laptop and start up a blog next time you’re house-bound with illness; it’s a great way to showcase your talent, as well as a brilliant way to connect with like-minded people. Work hard on it and you might get brands approaching you that are willing to pay you to feature them on your blog; many people even end up turning blogging into a part-time job.
Online Shop Owner
For those with an entrepreneurial spirit, it might be a dream come true to own your own business. However, when you suffer with chronic illness, you won’t always be able to man a shop five days a week. That doesn’t have to stop you though, and setting up online is a good way to go. Whether you start with a shop on eBay or one on Etsy, both are good ways to get a feel for the business before investing a lot of money in a website of your own.
Mobile Hairdresser
If you’re creatively minded, training to become a hairdresser could be something you might enjoy. It takes a few years, but if you’re after a long-term career, the time you put in now is an investment for your future. Rather than working in a salon, you could go mobile with your service, visiting people in the comfort of their own homes. Start by offering friends your service at a discounted rate, and they’re likely to recommend you to other people they know. When you have personal ties to your customers, if your illness means you have to reschedule an appointment, they’re likely to be more understanding.
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